Lav Diaz’s “Magellan” Starring Gael García Bernal Premieres Exclusively on Criterion Channel

Posted on April 16, 2026 by admin

Lav Diaz has turned Ferdinand Magellan’s brutal voyage into something mesmerizing. His latest film, “Magellan,” just dropped exclusively on the Criterion Channel, and it’s getting serious attention from critics.

Gael García Bernal plays the Portuguese navigator who led the first European expedition across the Pacific and into the Philippines. Diaz reimagines that journey as something hypnotic, caught between beauty and violence. Variety calls it “mesmerizing,” In Review Online labels it “a masterpiece,” and Slant says it’s “one of the most beautiful movies of the year.”

The film doesn’t shy away from what colonization cost. As The New York Times notes, Diaz “shows what was lost when the ostensibly old world discovered everyone else.” It’s politically rigorous, visually stunning, and García Bernal reportedly delivers one of his finest performances.

The Criterion Channel has it streaming now, with Blu-ray and DVD releases coming soon. For filmmakers tackling historical epics with a critical eye, this one matters. Diaz continues proving that slow cinema can pack a serious punch.

Bi Gan’s Resurrection Lands on Criterion Channel With Critical Acclaim

Posted on March 26, 2026 by admin

Huace Pictures

Visionary filmmaker Bi Gan returns with his most ambitious work yet, Resurrection, now streaming on the Criterion Channel.

The film, which earned the Jury Special Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, blends fantasy, romance, and cinematic history into a dreamlike narrative. It follows a mysterious “dreaming monster” (played by Jackson Yee) pursued by a woman (played by Shu Qi) through a shifting world where humanity has traded dreams for immortality.

Structured as a genre-spanning journey, Resurrection moves through styles ranging from silent-era expressionism to noir and surreal fantasy, creating what critics have described as a visually striking and deeply immersive experience.

The film has received widespread acclaim, with many outlets naming it among the year’s best, praising its ambition and unique approach to storytelling.

A home video release is expected to follow, expanding access to one of the most talked-about international films of the year.

Mistress Dispeller Streams on Criterion Channel, Unpacking China’s Infidelity Industry

Posted on February 26, 2026 by admin

Elizabeth Lo’s documentary Mistress Dispeller is now streaming exclusively on the Criterion Channel.

The film follows Wang Zhenxi, a professional “mistress dispeller” hired to preserve marriages by breaking up extramarital affairs — a growing industry in China. With rare, intimate access, the documentary observes a real marital crisis unfold as Wang works to steer a couple back from collapse.

As loyalties shift between husband, wife, and mistress, Mistress Dispeller explores how emotion, pragmatism, and cultural expectations shape modern relationships. Critics have described the film as both haunting and unexpectedly tender.

Mistress Dispeller is available now on the Criterion Channel.